Freezing tray with ice release cam structure



March 7, 1944. L. L. MALTLAIRD FREEZING TRAY WITH ICE RELEASE CAMSTRUCTURE Filed Deg. 4, 1941 Patented Mar. 7, 1944 FREEZING TRAY WITHICE RELEASE CAM STRUCTURE Logan L. Mallard, Norfolk, Va. ApplicationDecember 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,643 8 Claims. (Cl. 62-1085) Thisinvention relates to ice forming apparatus and means for releasing icefrom the device in which it is frozen.

The problem of removing ice adhering to a mold or pan in which the sameis frozen has been attacked in many ways, but a large amount of efforthas been directed to more or less mass or multiple removal. The presentinvention is particularly directed to removal of ice from a single cell,although a number of such cells may be nested together to form an icetray or multiple mold.

An object of the invention is to provide ice dislodging means for usewith individual cups or trays which may be manufactured at a cost so lowas to bring it within the novelty range and which will also have anappeal to the purchasing public from a standpoint of utility.

Another object is to provide a highly simplified yet eflicient icedislodging means readily applicable to containers of standardized formto adapt the latter for use as freezing trays.

A further object of the invention is to provide ice dislodging means foruse with individual cups or containers having side walls defining anannular freezing chamber, such for example as the conventional cup-cakeor muflin tin.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent inview of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of a container having theimproved ice dislodging means operatively mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the ice dislodging meansin operation;

Fig. 3 'is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the ice dislodging vmeans removed from itscontainer;

Fig. 5 shows the ice dislodging means applied to a tray embodying aplurality of freezing chambers or containers.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of a container having a modifiedform of ice dislodging means therein;

Fig; '7 is a perspective of the ice dislodging means of Fig. 6 and Figs.8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 6 andv '7 showing a furthermodification in structure.

Referring to the drawing in detail and first to Figs. 1' to 4,inclusive. an individual freezing container is indicated at It having atop lip or flange H. The container III has synclinal side walls, andwhile this increases the efflciency of the improved ice dislodgingmeans, it is not a necessary adjunct. However, most individualcontainers of the type under consideration are circular and have theirside walls sloping outwardly from the bottom to the top of thecontainer. These individual containers may be the conventionally cupcakepan or muflln tin.

The ice dislodging means comprises a partition l2 which may be made outof thin sheet metal or other suitable material with its opposite endedges following the contour of the pan as indicated at H and I3. Thelower edge of the partition is formed with front and rear lateralprojections defining wedges l4 and I5 which are preferablymade integralwith the partition and are embedded in the ice when the fluid is frozen.The top edge of the partition is formed with a projection It to which is.pivoted a lever II, which also may be made of sheet metal bent to forma channel which receives the projection I6 and a pivot l8. The one endof the lever is shaped as a handle I'I'. The operating end of the leverhas pivoted thereto a push rod or link I9 which may be a metal strapbent to form a loop which is inserted over the lower front edge of thepartition l2 and engages in a recess 20 formed between the projectionsI. note Fig. 4. The upper end of the link is pivoted to the end of thelever H at "2|. It will be noted that when the lever I l is actuated thepartition I! is caused to reciprocate vertically within the link I9. Theupper extremity of the link is is' formed withlateral projectionsdefining wedges l9 inclined counter to the wedges I4 and I5 and coactingwith the latter to dislodge the ice blocks.

At one of its upper corners, the partition I! is preferably providedwith a fiat nib 22 which is adapted to contact the flange H of thecontainer and steady the partition as well as center it within thecontainer. The lower edge of the partition may have a slight clearancewith respect to the bottom of the container so that the partition ispartly suspended from the nib.

Figs. 1, 2 and .4 show the operation of the ice dislodging means. Thelever I! when in idle position is down as indicated in Fig. 1, thepartition l2 at this time resting adjacent or on the bottom of thecontainer. After the water or other material has frozen and it isdesired to release same, the lever I7 is raised as shown in Fig. 2,thereby forcing the bottom of the link is against the bottom of thecontainer or pan and at the same time prying upwardly on the partitionI! causing the latter to rise and elevate the ice and at the same timeseparate the latter from the container as well as the side walls of thepartition; due to the wedge-shaped or anticlinal contour of theprojections l4 and I5 and I9. Since the lever H has a fulcrum action itmay be caused to exert a relatively strong pull on the partition l2 witha minimum of manual effort.

Fig. 5 shows a freezing tray 22 formed with a plurality of cells orcontainers each provided with an individual ice dislodging means. Thisfigure also illustrates how an ordinary cake pan may be converted intoan ice cube tray, the ice dislodging mechanism being readily applied toeffect the transition and permitting selective removal of ice cubes fromthe tray. It will be understood that the tray 22 may be of a size suchas will adapt it to the conventional evaporator shelf.

Figs. 6 and '7 show a modified type of ice dislodging means. In thisinstance the container is similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 andis given similar reference numerals with the exception that a prime hasbeen added. The partition in this instance is indicated at 23 and at itslower edge is provided with lateral wedge-shaped projections 24 whichfunction in a manner similar to the projections l4 and I5 of Figs. 1 to4, inclusive. A lever 25 is provided and has its one end pivotallyconnected to the upper front edge of the partition 23 as at 26, the saidlever at its operating end being formed with a cam portion 21 adapted toengage the ice block or mass when the lever is raised or swung upwardlyto raised position. The cam portion 21 is preferably cammed laterally oris wedge-shaped, as indicated at 21a, so as to not only cam downwardlyagainst the ice but to also split or divide the latter when cam 21 isrotated. The opposite edge of the partiton 23 is provided with a nib 28which functions in a manner similar to the member 22 of Figs, 1 to 4,inclusive.

To eil'ect release of ice with the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and '7, itis only necessary to raise the lever 25 and rotate the cam 21 in the iceblock, whereupon the partition 23 is raised and at the same timeseparating action is exerted on the cubes by portion 21a of cam 21 andprojections 24.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the ice dislodging means provided with aplurality of grid sections or partitions and whereby a single containermay be separated into four separate freezing compartments, saidpartitions being indicated at 29 and 3B. The lower edges of thepartitions are provided with lateral wedg shaped projections 3| and 32.A lever 33 is pivoted -to a projection 34 formed on the upper edge ofthe partition 30 as at 35. A link or strap 36 is pivoted at 3! to thefront or operating end of the lever and extends downwardly and straddlesthe partitions 29 and 30 between the projections Si and 32, the latterbeing so interconnected as to resist separation when an upward pull isexerted thereon. The upper extremity of link 36 is provided with lateralpro jections 36' defining wedges which coact with projections 3| and 35to separate the ice mass or block.

The operation of this form of mechanism is substantially similar to thatfirst described. when the lever is raised, the lower end of the link orstrap II is jammed against the bottom of the pan, whereupon thepartitions are elevated, freeing the cubes from the sides of the pan andat the same time dislodging the ice from the partitions.

It will be seen that the improved cube dislodging mechanism hereindescribed permits an ordinary cake or muffin tin to be converted into anice freezing tray or container with the advantages of cube formation andfree removal. The ice dislodging unit may be manufactured at a costsufficiently low to permit its use as an advertising medium or as afavor or prize in the sale of merchandise, while at the same time it isremarkably effective in performing its function.

It will be understood that certain limited changes in construction anddesign may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for dislodging ice from a container having annular innersynclinal walls defining a chamber in which water or other fluid isfrozen, comprising a partition adapted to span said chamber and besubmerged in the fluid during freezing, said partition having anticlinalprojections on the lower edge thereof to be embedded in the ice adjacentthe bottom of the container, a lever pivoted to the upper edge of thepartition and having a handle portion adapted to overlie said edge whenthe lever is in idle position, and means connected to the operating endof the lever adapted to cam against the ice mass when the lever israised and thereby force the partition upwardly and dislodge the icefrom the container and center the partition in the container.

2. As an article of manufacture, mechanism adapted for removableplacement in an annular chamber in which water or other fluid is frozen,comprising a thin partition having lateral projections adjacent thelower edge thereof to be embedded in the ice adjacent the bottom of thecontainer, a lever pivoted to the upper edge of the partition and havinga handle portion adapted to align with and overlie the said edge whenthe lever is in idle position, the operating end of the lever havingmeans connected thereto adapted to press against a wall of the containerwhen the lever is raised and force the partition upwardly to therebydislodge the ice from the container and partition, one of the uppercorners ofsaid partition being provided with a centering member adaptedto overlie the upper edge of the container when the partition reachesits lowermost position in said container.

3. Means for dislodging ice from a container in which water or othermaterial is frozen, comprising a partition adapted to span the interiorof the container and be submerged in the fluid during freezing, saidpartition having oppositely projecting members on its lower edge to beembedded in the ice adjacent the bottom of the container, a leverpivoted to and overlying the upper edge of the partition, and a linkpivotally connected to the operating end of the lever and extending downfor contact with the bottom wall of the container whereby when the leveris raised said member is pressed against the bottom of the container toforce the partition upwardly and dislodge ice from the container.

4. Means for dislodging ice fromacontainer having an annular chamberwith synclinal walls in which water or other fluid is frozen, comprisinga relatively thin partition adapted to span the interior of thecontainer and be submerged in the fluid during freezing, said partitionhaving anticlinal wedge-shaped projections on the lower edge thereof tobe embedded in the ice adjacent the bottom of the container, a leverpivoted to the upper edge of the partition, and a link pivotallyconnected to the operating end of the lever and looped around the loweredge of the partition with its lower end adapted for abutting engagementwith the bottom of the container adjacent said projections, said leverwhen raised forcing said link downwardly against the bottom of thecontainer and lifting said partition to effect dislodgment of the icefrom the container.

5. Means for dislodging ice from a container having a chamber in whichwater or other fluid is frozen, comprising a partition adapted to spanthe interior of the container and be submerged in the iiuid duringfreezing, said partition having projections on its lower edge to beembedded in the ice adjacent the bottom of the container, and a leverpivoted to the upper edge of the partition, the operating end of thelever being formed with a cam portion to engage the ice mass when thelever is raised to thereby force the partition upwardly and dislodge icefrom the container.

6. Means for dislociging ice from a container having a chamber in whichwater or other fluid is frozen, comprising a partition adapted to spanthe interior of the container and be submerged in the fluid duringfreezing, said partition having projections on its lower edge to beembedded in the ice adjacent the bottom of the container, and a leverpivoted to the upper edge of the partition, the operating end of thelever being formed with a cam portion to engage the ice mass when thelever is raised to thereby force the partition upwardly and dislodge icefrom the container, said cam portion being shaped to also exert opposedlateral pressures on the ice mass at opposite sides of the partition.

'I. In combination with a container having walls defining a chamber inwhich water or other fluid may be frozen, a partition spanning saidchamber and dividing the latter into a plurality of freezingcompartments, said partition having wedge-shaped projections on oppositesides thereof to be imbedded in the ice during freezing of the fluid, alever pivoted to the partition and adapted to overlie the latter when inidle position, and a link connected to the operating end of the leverand extending downwardly adjacent said partition to abut the bottom ofthe container when the lever is raised.

and force the partition upwardly and dislodge ice from said chamber,said link having lateral wedge-shaped projections operating counter tosaid first-named projections.

8. Means for dislodging ice from a container in which water or othermaterial is frozen, comprising a partition adapted to span the interiorof the container and be submerged in the fluid during freezing, a leverpivoted to and overlying the upper edge of the partition, and a linkpivoted to the operating end of the lever and extending down for contactwith the bottom wall of the container whereby when the lever is raisedsaid link is urged against said wall to raise the partition and dislodgeice from the container, said link having wedge-shaped projectionsadapted to facilitate separation of the ice from the partition upondownward mo ment of the link.

' LOGAN L. MALLARD.

